In 1967 as today, Trinidad was a culturally diverse island in the West Indies, with a heritage that includes slavery, colonizers, and island natives. There were many racial and ethnic groups: African, East Indian, and white, with Spanish, British, and French influences. Though English was the official language, many were spoken on the island including Creole, Hindi, Urdu, and Spanish. Each culture had its own religion as well. Catholicism, Protestantism, Hindu, and Muslim faiths were practiced on Trinidad. The groups often thought of them selves as distinct, which created problems, social and otherwise, especially during the formation of political parties and unions.

Trinidad (unified with Tobago since colonial days in the nineteenth century) had attained independent commonwealth status in 1962. The country was administered by Great Britain as part of its Commonwealth of Nations, which meant Tobago was ruled by a governor-general appointed by that country's leaders. A...